Transcript Highlights:

• I guess, in a nutshell, the bill updates the section of the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow the commission

Bills: SB614, SB872, SB1199, SB1212, SB1278, SB1573, SB1588, SB1602, SB1660, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2146, SB2177, SB2373, SB2460, SB2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, SB 872, burglary of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, theft of a firearm, stolen gun, firearm theft, Penal Code Section 30.04, third-degree felony, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalty enhancement, gun theft, vehicle break-in, property crime, sentencing enhancement, Texas criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• offense... ...causes the death of an individual by criminal negligence, and an offense under this section
• possible to indict on multiple different grounds rather than explicitly limiting it to just this section

Bills: SB614, SB872, SB1199, SB1212, SB1278, SB1573, SB1588, SB1602, SB1660, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2146, SB2177, SB2373, SB2460, SB2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, SB 872, burglary of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, theft of a firearm, stolen gun, firearm theft, Penal Code Section 30.04, third-degree felony, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalty enhancement, gun theft, vehicle break-in, property crime, sentencing enhancement, Texas criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• to go, but Chairman, can I, sorry, Senator Hinojosa, this is a nutshell, the, the bill updates a section

Bills: SB 614, SB 872, SB 1199, SB 1212, SB 1278, SB 1573, SB 1588, SB 1602, SB 1660, SB 1704, SB 1723, SB 1833, SB 1858, SB 1946, SB 2009, SB 2146, SB 2177, SB 2373, SB 2460, SB 2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, SB 872, burglary of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, theft of a firearm, stolen gun, firearm theft, Penal Code Section 30.04, third-degree felony, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalty enhancement, gun theft, vehicle break-in, property crime, sentencing enhancement, Texas criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the committee substitute amends a drafting error in section... ...one of the bill.
• Section 3, I'm sorry, Section 3 on page H2, the bill amends the text code.
• You see that it goes to also allow any activity described by section 54.003.
• Six, which I understand in the committee substitute is now a different section.
• It describes the activities identified in that section of...

Bills: SB 682, SB 1013, SB 1369, SB 1422, SB 2001, SB 2080, SB 2366, SB 2705, SB 2841

Keywords: memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision

Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on several bills aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency of Texas transportation and port authorities. Key discussions included the implications of SB2080, which seeks to streamline operations for navigation districts by raising procurement authority, exempting security discussions from recording requirements, and aligning Texas ports with national standards to foster economic growth. Senator Alvarado advocated fervently for the bill, emphasizing its positive impact on competitiveness with ports in states like Virginia and New Jersey. Public testimony reflected mixed responses, with strong support from industry representatives but opposition from some municipal authorities concerned about the potential overreach of port authorities into local development.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, Section 4203 of the penal code prohibits a person from...
• The committee substitute amends a drafting error in section. one of the bill.
• 3, I'm sorry, Section 3 on page H2, the bill amends the text code.
• in the committee substitute is now a different section.
• And so it describes the activities identified in that section.

Bills: SB682, SB1013, SB1369, SB1422, SB2001, SB2080, SB2366, SB2705, SB2841

Keywords: memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision

Bills: SB1360, SB1204, SB1989, SB1189, SB1481

Keywords: mathematics, student assessment, dyscalculia, intervention services, educational funding, professional development, state department of education, school employees, teachers, support personnel, support employees, public schools, school districts, bereavement leave, paid leave, grief leave, family leave, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, maternity leave

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's a middle section between one hundred thousand and...
• Section E.
• If they do not, this section will expire. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
• Code section 127.306 for testing tabulating equipment, section 129.003 for voting system standards, section
• 129.054 for equipment testing requirements, and section 276... 6.019 for election procedures.

Bills: HB569, HB766, HB1638, HB2316, HB2773, HB2785, HB3113, HB3709, HB3775, HB4275

Keywords: early voting, ballot correction, voting rights, election integrity, mail-in voting, voter notification, HB 766, precinct chair, precinct chair candidate, ballot application, Texas Election Code, Section 172.021, election administration, candidate filing, party precinct chair, county party, political party office, email address, telephone number, confidential candidate information

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 12 in my bill has exactly what she discusses, which is that the Department of Education would
• In fact, two sections ago, I had that exact same bill from Florida on social media... ...same bill from
• Our section 12 allows... ...Our section 12 allows flexibility.
• So, if you read section 12, it says they may create a curriculum.
• Section 12 is something that we would support.

Bills: HB235, HB276, HB285

Keywords: social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety, youth social media, minor safety, child online safety, teen accounts, parental controls

Transcript Highlights:

• It just removes the section related to the extension of the dates between the RIT and the special election
• She said the amendment maintains the provision requiring a longer filing period, but removes the section
• raise up, and this I know particularly applies to my hometown because we are also a charter city, but section
• raise up, and this I know particularly applies to my hometown because we are also a charter city, but section
• raise up, and this I know particularly applies to my hometown because we are also a charter city, but section

Bills: HF72, HF66, HF69, HF73

Keywords: campaign finance, state funding, political activity, nonprofits, government transparency, HF66, Minnesota second-degree murder, unintentional murder, protective order, order for protection, harassment restraining order, domestic violence, victim protection, cross-jurisdictional orders, out-of-state restraining order, tribal court order, Canadian protective order, public safety, criminal law, homicide

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 504 simply enforces this Supreme Court decision.
• Section 504 simply enforces this Supreme Court decision.
• Section 504 simply enforces this Supreme Court decision.
• Section 504 simply enforces this Supreme Court decision.
• Section 504 simply enforces this Supreme Court decision.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The only section that pertains to the FQHC is section 1.4.
• The only section that pertains to the FQHC is section 1.4.
• And then sections 8, 9, 10 are just conforming sections.
• So let's look at page 7, section 6.
• Members, any questions on Senate Bill 504?

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can live with it, but without 504, I'm not sure. Or some version of 504.
• 504 in front of us?
• you to non-concur with 504. you to non-concur with 504.
• Section Section Section three<02:22:54.920> takes<02:22:55.200> effect<02:22:55.560>
• There is no more section four. There is no more section four.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began as a Committee of Conference on House Bill 194, but the discussion quickly centered on whether to remove an attached bill, 504, because of concerns about a possible fee or tax and a House rule issue. Members debated the procedural posture of the bill, whether the House version had been non-concurred, and whether the conference committee could still resolve the issue by adopting the House amendment or reconsidering the non-concur. The exchange became tense, with one side warning that failing to pass the measure could jeopardize a linked rural health transformation grant worth about $20 million. The committee ultimately recessed without resolving the 194/504 dispute and planned to return the next day. The committee then opened conference on House Bill 609, which dealt with use-of-force/self-defense language and restraint/seclusion authority in health care settings. On the self-defense portion, House members argued strongly for restoring vehicle language, saying people should be able to defend themselves in a car the same way they can in a home, especially in carjacking or assault situations where no weapon is displayed. Senate members expressed concern about expanding deadly-force protections too broadly and suggested narrowing the language to focus on imminent harm to the person, not property, while also questioning where the provision should be placed in statute. The second major topic in HB 609 was who may order restraint or seclusion in clinical settings. House members argued that physicians are not always immediately available, especially in hospitals and emergency settings, and that APRNs and physician associates should be able to act in crises if properly trained and credentialed. Senate members raised concerns about scope of practice and asked whether the language implied patient consent was required; the Senate side explained that consent language was intended to address capacity and informed decision-making, not to require voluntary consent to restraint. The discussion ended with the sides still apart, though the Senate floated a compromise allowing physician associates to order restraint when no doctor is physically on the premises, while not yet extending that authority to APRNs. The committee took a short break to continue negotiations on the firearm/self-defense piece.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, well, I have four 504, Mr. Chairman. 504. 504. Let me pass this around and I'll explain it.
• <00:06:41.919> 504.<00:06:42.880> 504.
• Chairman. 504. 504. Let me pass 504, Mr. Chairman. 504. 504.
• And I I'd like to move 504 up to pass.
• section um two um is all next uh section section um two um is all the<00:10:48.480> same<00:10

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and move it to a general section, fiction section intended for adults.
• The public library in the city of Tyler has a children's section and a young adult section, and there's
• no section for ages in between, which means that my daughters will be drawn to the young adult section
• to those sections.
• aren't Bible stories in the children's section, but the actual Bible isn't in the children's section

Bills: HB 45, HB 755, HB 1232, HB 1555, HB 2460, HB 2702, HB 2973, HB 3120, HB 3225, HB 3314, HB 3356, HB 3371, HB 3634, HB 3638, HB 4247, HB 4283, HB 4290, HB 4302, HB 4503, HB 4511, HB 4565, HB 4581, HB 4627, HB 4632, HB 4660, HB 4668, HB 4960, HB 5042

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• These sections relate to the calculation of the no new revenue tax rate.
• Pertaining to the regulation of an animal described in section 822.102A6.
• It was actually written into Article II, Section I of the Constitution.
• Specifically, House Bill 4247 amends section.
• This section, and I ask you why. Okay.

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• But we fully support Section 3 of the bill.
• adult section and move it to a general fiction section intended for adults.
• section, and there's no section for ages in between.
• Most good-sized libraries have a children's section, a teens section, and a young adult section, but
• ... ...aren't Bible stories in the children's section, but the actual Bible isn't in the children's section

Bills: HB45, HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money

Transcript Highlights:

• 504 plan.
• So, if the Section 504 plan has a transportation need in it, whether the school district's responsible
• Do we need to strike out on page three, on line 20, at the end, is for Section 504 plan, because
• <00:59:33.520> 504<00:59:34.120> plan Um at the end is for section 504 plan Um at the
• end is for section 504 plan because<00:59:35.160> that<00:59:35.440> would<00:59:35.600

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 751 reviewed amendment 2026-1904H page by page, focusing on open enrollment rules, capacity definitions, statewide enrollment limits, denial criteria, transportation, and funding. Members discussed clarifying that districts may set capacity at zero if they truly have no room, creating a statewide enrollment cap of 500 that can increase by 25% if it reaches 90% utilization, and exempting seats already used by open enrollment students before October 1, 2026. They also discussed how the Department of Education would allocate seats through rulemaking, while local districts would still set capacity, with grandfathered seats preserved where districts already allow open enrollment. A substantial portion of the meeting centered on when districts may deny open enrollment applications. The amendment would allow denials for reasons such as chronic absenteeism or disciplinary history, while requiring districts to consider whether those issues are tied to disability, McKinney-Vento status, foster care, or bullying. Members emphasized that such factors are to be considered, not used as the sole basis for rejection, and noted that the bill separately prohibits receiving schools from accepting or rejecting applicants based on pupil needs, special education needs, disability, aptitude, or athletic achievement. There was also discussion of whether interdistrict transfers should count toward open enrollment capacity, with a suggestion that a carve-out may be needed. The committee also reviewed provisions on program-specific capacity, continuous enrollment, and transportation. It was explained that capacity can apply to a school, grade, program, or class, including CTE programs, and that students may be denied if a specific program is full or if they do not meet prerequisites. The group clarified that open enrollment pupils would maintain continuous enrollment without reapplying, though there was concern about how that would work if district capacity changes over time. Transportation would generally be the parent’s responsibility unless required by an IEP or 504 plan, though students may use an existing bus route if seats are available and the receiving district allows it. On funding, the committee noted that the amendment changes the earlier HB 751 approach and instead ties open enrollment funding to base adequacy, differentiated aid, and an additional grant modeled on charter school funding, with dates removed at the department’s request. Members also raised concerns about how open enrollment would interact with existing tuition agreements and whether districts could use the new pathway to alter or pressure those arrangements. Department staff said districts would still be required to maintain a school of record and provide an adequate education free of charge outside the open enrollment program, and that if open enrollment enrollment became unusually large relative to district adequacy enrollment, the issue could be brought to the state board. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, that's in section one of this bill here. In section one of the amendment. Um, 1742H. Yes.
• In section one of the this bill here. In section one of the amendment. amendment. amendment.
• 504 with amendment 1742H. 504 with amendment 1742H.
• . 504. 504.
• So, section<03:10:45.600> 5b, section 5b, section 5b, um<03:10:47.320> the<03:10:47.440

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So simply on our end, the synopsis state sales and use tax, but the use tax code section was not referenced
• the<00:08:20.160> use<00:08:20.400> tax<00:08:20.720> code<00:08:20.960> section
• <00:08:21.280> was<00:08:21.520> not the use tax code section was not the use tax code
• section was not referenced.<00:08:22.160> We<00:08:22.400> added<00:08:22.720> that

Bills: SB125, SB123, SB124, HB38, SB125, SB123, SB124, HB38

Keywords: oyster shell, tax credit, recycling, restaurant, state revenue, environmental benefit, sales tax exemption, seafood, fishing industry, local government, municipal exemption, seagrass restoration, environmental policy, water quality, marine ecosystems, conservation efforts, marine conservation, environmental remediation, coastal ecosystems, state waters

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2021, Senate Bill 2185 established Section 49.2127, limiting the ability of certain water districts

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.